Foot covering



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,705

B. L. HENRY FOOT COVERING Filed April 4, 1927 ,OM/(fu/ BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1927.`

UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

Ban-Lan Louisa HENRY, or Nawv Yoan, N. x1.. assieNoa To r. n. xnamnar 'nonnen COMPANY, or Naw Yoan, N. Y.

roo'r covnnINe.

. Application led April 4, 1927. Serial No. 180,771. i

rIhis linvention relates to a combined insert and foot covering adapted to be Worn by bathers on the beach or in the Water.

Some of the objects of Ythe present invention are: to provide an insert capable of being'A used in conjunction with a foot covering to provide the foot` covering with a high heel with the necessary solidity or rigidity, and an arch or shank also having the necessary rigidity, the foot covering thus formed being adapted for wear over the .stockinged foot or bare foot by bathers on the beach or in the water and giving to the wearer the desired comfort; and to rovide. an insert which may be made of different materials to be light in Weight, durable and reinforced if desired, which is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a heelless rubber foot covering to provide the same with a high heel with the necessary rigidity, also an arch or shank with the necessary rigidity.

rThe nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the -following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in whichj Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of bathers foot covering With the insert of the present invention combined therewith to provide a high heel for the foot covering.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the foot covering and insert.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the insert. Y

Fig. f1 is a view of the bottom of the back end of the foot covering. v

The present invention contemplates a comparatively inexpensive foot covering for bathers which will be formed with a high heel to give the necessary comfort when worn on' the stockinged-or bare foot. The foot coverings are usually made of rubber, and because of this fact it is dillicult to pro- N'vide the foot covering withA ahigh heel having the necessary solidity and rigidity and an arch having the necessary rigidity to give support to the arch of the-foot.

In order to obtain the desired results there is provided an insert 10 havinga high.heel 11, an. arch or shank 12 and a sole portion 13.' The insert 10 may be produced from any suitable material, or combination of materials.V In the present instance the insert is made from wood pulp such as balsa pulp with a suitable binder,"and is reinforced by a piece of material such as steel bent and .formed to vprovide a portion 14 embedded in the heel 11, a portion 15 extending 1n the arch or shank 12 and some distance into the sole portion 13. This piece of material'se'rves to give the necessary support. or rigidity to the arch or shank 12 of the insert. It is to be understood that the insert may be made entirely of othermaterial such as wood or aluminum.

The insert 10 is used in conjunction with a foot covering 16 preferably of high grade rubber. The foot covering may be made in different styles and of dilerent designs. The foot covering 16 as constructed in the present instance is heelless,.but has an opening 17 as the place where the heel usually occurs. A. suitable bead 18 surrounds the opening 17. The insert 10 is associated with the foot covering 16 by projecting or extending the heel l1 through the o nin 17, with the arch or shank 12, and t e so e portion similar portions of the oot covering 16, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The upper portion of the heel 11 of the insertmay be .13 of the insert 10 res ectively overlying provided with agroove 19 for the reception of thevbead 18 to eli'ectively maintain the proper correlation of the heel 11 of the insert and the back of the foot covering. 16.

From the' foregoing it will be apparent that there has been described an insert, and foot covering which may be combined to produce' a4 new article ot manufacture particularlyadapted to be worn over the stockinged or bare `foot by bathers and which will afford the desired comfort either while walking or promenading on the beach or While in the Water. y

It is to be understood that the insert may be used in conjunction with a rubbershoel or foot'covering ofthe sunken -heel type to provide the heel of the shoe-and the 'arch or shank thereof with the necessary rigidity.

In order to insure-a substantially permanent connection between the heel 11 of the v insert and the material surrounding the beaded opening 17, I propose to make the ,dimension of the opening substantially smaller than the circumferential dimension of seat or groove 19 into which the'bead 18 is adapted to be lodged when 'the insert is in position. This construction of course ma e it necessary to stretch the-material manent Stefhclaim 1 'The combination with a bathing shoe K having a heel opening, of an insert consisting of a heel extending through said opening to provide a tread portion for the shoe, and an arch ortion extending within the soe and over ying the arch portion of the s oe.

2. The combination with a rubber shoe having a heel opening, of an insert consisting oi a solid heel extending through said o ening to provide a tread portion for the s oe, an arch portion and sole portion respectively overl ing the arch portion and sole portion of t e shoe.

3. The combination with a bathing shoe having a heel opening, of an insert consisting of a heel' extending through said opening to Iprovide a tread portion for the shoe, an arc portion extending within the shoe and overlying the arch portion of the shoe said insert having a oove therein aroun the heel thereof, am? a bead surroundin(lr the opening in the shoe entered into said groove to maintain the correlation of the heel of the insert and the back of the shoe.

4. An insert for a foot covering comprising a heel, an arched shank, a sole, and a reinforcement strip extending within the sole and into the heel.

5. The combination with a iexible bathingshoe having a heel opening, of an in sert for thel heel opening consisting of a rigid heel portion provided with a seat of substantially greater circumferential'dimension than that of the heel opening whereb the heel extending through said opening W' l be firmly connected to the shoe.

6. The combination with a rubber bathing shoe having a beaded heel opening, and an insert consisting of a rigid heel extending through said opening and having a seat for the bead adjacent the inner end, the circumferential dimension of the beaded heel opening being smaller than that of the seat, whereby the bead will remain in stretched condition while in position in the seat.

In testimony whereof She has aixed her signature.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY. 

